Automatic train-pipe connecter



Oct. 16, 1928 1,687,893 E. A. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN ISIPE CONNECTER- Filed tay 1v. 1922 --Eza- Patented ott. 16, 1928,

i 1,681,893 PATENT; OFFICE.

EDWARD A. `ROBINSON, O11" MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HIMSELF AND ONE-HALF TO ELLISON E. WORKMAN, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

` AUTOMATIC TRAINPIPELCONNECTER.

Application med May 17, 1922- seriai No. 561,707.

My invention relates to y automatic connecters intended for runiting the train pipes of meeting cars. 'f l The main purpose of my invention is to a afford a maximum of strength and convenience in thev joining ofl a retaining bolt for a buffer spring to the bracket upon which it is to be supported. o Y Y v V A further purpose is to reduce the expense in of manufacture and to improve the engagement between the head supporting yoke or carrier and the head itself.

A further purpose isto provide for gathering of the mat-ing heads by laterally disposed i; wings or ears and to secure final exact placing of the two heads with respect to each other by preferably vertically disposed positioning members having but very slight gathering range.

A furtlier'purpose is to lower the connection between a connecter head and the bracket to facilitate access to the train pipes and terminals from the'side.

A further purpose is to channel theinem- 25 bers of a carrier or yoke for the head with a view to obtaining stiffening and guiding surface with a minimum of weight.

Further purposes will appear in the speciflcation and in the claims. I prefer to illustrate myv invention by but one form, selecting a form which is practical, f eflicient and reliable and which lat the saine time well illustrates the principles of my -invention. Y

Figure 1 is a broken side elevation showing the preferred form of my'inveiition in coupling position.y

Figures 2 and 3 are sections upon lines 2 2 and 3 3 respectively of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectionupon line 4-4 of Figure 3. 7

Figure 5 is a lsection taken upon line 5 5 of Figure 1, omitting the spring.

' In the drawings similar numerals indicate like parts. r

I provide the head 7 with the usual gathering prongs or ears 8 staggered upon opposite sides. In such structures dependence has been placed largely upon the mating of the. prongs of opposite heads along some such line as 9 to insure accurate vertical placing of the heads. Though this is .satisfactory in the main, in that it brings the parts reliably to a close approximation of exact mating position, it is desirable to have further correction for any slight displacement which may still exist. As this displacement is most likely to be vertical I place the correcting devices at the top and bottom beyond the terminals, and show the heads as extended .at 10, 10 to carry cooperating pins 11 and socket-s 12, which have noA substantial gathering. range but which interfit to guide and correct for relatively slight displacements. On account of the distance between them they alsoseeure very accurate angular placing of the heads.

In order to require as littleviitting and as firm contact between the head and the feet of a supporting yoke or carrier 13 as possible, I terminate one of the mating parts,.shown as the yoke or carrier, in ribs 14 located along the outer edges of right-.angular feet 15 and seat these ribs upon the other part, namely, upon the lugs or bosses 16, which Aare rigid with the head and preferably are supported back of the wings. These parts are bolted together at 17, between the ribs. y

The yoke or carrier is shown as staggered for the connection of the head and liavingtlie lower of its two legs 18, 19, quite low, preferably depressed below tlie point of attachment with the head, to give additional i'oom for access to the train pipe connecting parts or terininals shown here conventionally as comprising terminals 20, 21, 22, suitable fittings and kl/Vestinghouse couplers 23, 24 and Gold coupler 25. The upper leg 18 is extended some distance from the head at a high level and is then dropped to the level of the rear of the leg 179.

' The rib Contact between the legs and the head very much reduces the amount of ina-` Vchining or grinding required for firm seating of the parts.

The legs 18, 19 are channeled for greater strength and for additional bearing surface Von the pins 30 With the channels facingr outwardly, and this channeling is extended about the slots 26 at the rear on both sides of the yoke body 27 adjacent the bracket 28.V This gives additional strength and bearing surface (by reason of the width of the beads or flanges 29 at the edge of the slot) for the pins 30, which guide the movement of the body with respect to the bracket. This construction permits swinging of the head and yokecarrier about thev bracket both in horizontal and vertical planes, and hence secures a substantially universal joint connection between the carrier and the lower end of the bracket.

In order to accommodate this relative movement, the torward parts ol the sides 3l ol the bracket are relieved so that the bracket is narrower at the iront 3l than at the rear 31,2.

The ei'lective body oit theyoke or carrier comprises principally the rear port-ions ol the legs, a plate joining the two legs, and

forwardly extending prongs 33 extending :from the plate 82. Thelegs and the prongs are spaced to deiine the slots 26.

The orwaii'd (inner) tace 34 oiC the plate 32 is adapted to rest against the rearward face 35 ot the bracket and both are preferably ilattened in order to give proper direction to the head when the yoke or carrier is forced forward to bring the plate 32 against the rear of the bracket.

rIhe plate 32, and hence the yoke or carrier of which it forms a part, is held against the rear of the bracket by a butler spring 36 resting against the rear of the plate and held tightly against it by the bolt 3T and nut and washer 87.

The bolt 37 is hooked forward end at 38 and passes about a shank or neck 39 joining the sides 40 ot a voi ical slottl in the lower end ot the bracket. The slot all is elongated above the neck to permit the hook to pass through it and the holeiirthe plate 32 may likewise be elongated Vtor similar purposes it' desired. The shank or neck 239 is thinnest at the middle and thickens toward its side supports so as to present a longitudinally .curved exterior as seen in Figure 3, adapting it to be iitted by the hook. This gives great strength to transverse strain applied through the hook, while permitting swinging oit' the hook about the shank.

The plate 32 is provided with a rearwardly 'facing riin l2 adapted to position the lorward end of the spring 8G.

The earlier part el the gathering operation is exactly like that taking place with a number of existing heads. rl`he side wings Y, or prongs direct the opposite heads into nearly exact position. The pins then perform the final positioning function.

The head and yoke carrier are rigidly secured to each other and move as il integral. Vllheir normal position is determined bythe err gt the inner iace or the transverse plate at the rear of the carrier with the rear tace ofthe bracket. vWith the engagement ol' the head with a mating hea d the yoke is pressed rearwardly against the pressure the spring and is tree to rock in any direction-within v predetermined limits when the plate is separated Afrom the head.

It will be obviou-s that mv disclosure herein will suggest to those skilled in the art various ways in which part or all et the benefitol" my invention may be secured without copying the construction shown and it is my purpose to cover-hereinv all such forms as come within the reasonable spirit and scope ot my claims.

Having thus described -my` invention, what I claim vas new and desire .to secure by, Letters Patent is l l. In an automatic train pipe connecter, a bracket, a yoke supported by saidrbracket and having staggered legs extending therefrom, a head provided with staggered engaging prongs, terminals upon the legs having rib Contact with the head back of the prongs and astenings lor holding the leg terminals to the head. f

2. Inan automatic train pipe connecter,`a bracket, a yoke-supported by said bracket and having staggered legs extending therefrom, a head having staggered 'engaging prongs, terminals'upon the legs having rib contact with thehead back of the prongsand Ylfa'stenings for' holding the leg terminalsto the head. f

v3. In an automatic train Ypipe connecter, a bracket, a yoke supported byisaid bracket and having staggered legs extending ther from, ahead provided with staggered engagprongs, terminals upon the legs having ril,` contact with the head at spaced points Afor each leg back ot the prongs, forming` staggered ribbed contacts and 'lastenings for holding the leg terminals to the head. i

l. In an automatic train pipe connecter, a

bracket, a yoke supportedfby said bracket,

and having staggered'leg-s extending therefrom, a head having' staggered engaging prongs, terminals upon the legs having rib contact with the head at spaced points-tor each leg-back of. the prongs and lastenings for holding the leg terminals tothe head.

5. In a train. pipe connecter, a bracket, a head and a yoke, resilient connections vbetween the bracket and head, a contact between the head and Vyoke Abeing ot rib type along spaced areas at the top and bottom ot' the head .respectively and? fastening devices ljorvthe .yoke andhead engaging them between the lines of contact.v

6.. In an .automatic train connecter, bracket having an opening extending transversely through its lower end, longer vertically than horizontally, a pivot across the opening having` it. cross section-smallest at the middle and increasing toward each end, giving curved contours in klongitudinal sec'- tions, a hook engaging said pivot, a threaded rod connected with thehook, a yoke having a` forwardly facing surface at'the rear engaging the rear face of the bracket, a spring engaging the rear of theyoke, avnut upon the rod adapted to compress the spring, Vahead carried by the'yoke and train pipe terminals carried `by the head.

EDWARD apnonrus'oii. 

